Guests at our meeting this evening
included Steve and Peggy Woehleke,
MORAGA ROTARY
NEWSLETTER
September 11, 2018
Next Celebration: September 18, 2018
Noon Moraga Country Club
Program: Fransena Harmon, Shelter, Inc.
Greeter/Invocator: John Erickson
Sept 25 – Tony Eltringham – Battle of Atlantic
Oct 2 - Sandra Scherer – Monument Crisis Center
*Oct 9 - Troy Feddersen – Beer Making
Oct 16 - Open
Oct 23 - Rotary District Governor Visit
* Dinner Meeting @ 6:00 pm – Moraga Country Club
President Ron Mucovich rang the bell
to begin the meeting. Tony Schoemehl
offered an invocation remembering not
only 9/11 but also the many other
tragedies that have recently shaped our
lives.
Tony Offering the Invocation
our speakers tonight as well as Joyce
Ellenberg and Honorary Members Lou
Roessler, Ann Damaschino and Carol
Irwin.
~~ HAPPY BUCKS ~~
President Ron had a Happy Buck for
Cal’s win last weekend.
Gary Irwin was happy about the current
unbeaten record of the Kansas
Jayhawks.
Mike McCluer offered a Happy Buck for
the recent acquisition of the Painted
Rock area by the John Muir Land Trust.
Mike also spun the wheel for for his
recent visit to see his daughter.
Rev. Michelle Robbins is happy about
the new puppy in her household.
Ann Damaschino offered Happy Bucks
for the five grandchildren that are
attending college.
Steve Woehleke was happy about the
cooperation between Rotary and
Kiwanis in our community.
President Ron spun the wheel for his
recent trip to kids in Chicago. He noted
that he and Yelena had a great time
despite the loss of Northwestern to
Duke over the weekend.
Alka Mulakaluri was happy about her
daughter’s 18th birthday. Ashley is
attending Cal after her successful stint
as our Interact president over the past
couple of years.
Evie Michon misplaced her phone
during the meeting and offered a Happy
Buck when it was miraculously found!!
 ~~ANNOUNCEMENTS~~
Banner for Our New Business
Members
Mike McCluer showed the club the
tentative design for a club banner
displaying the names and logos of our
new business members.
providing food and support for homeless
veterans. Mike passed a sign-up sheet
for volunteers.
Rotary Day at Golden Gate Fields
Frank May let us know that there will be
a Rotary Day at Golden Gate Fields.
This is always a fun event with a buffet
luncheon and horse racing. The date is
Saturday, November 17th. Sign-up with
Frank if you are interested in attending.

Paul Harris Award

John Erickson, as part of our becoming

a 100 percent Paul Harris Award club,
awarded Mike McCluer his first Paul
Harris Award. Congratulations, Mike!

Shelter, Inc,

Tony Schoemehl highlighted the Congratulations, Mike!

progress made on the vegetable garden
to be constructed for the homeless
shelter. We are working on getting the
land cleared. The boy scouts will
construct the garden as part of an Eagle
Scout project.

Mike McCluer talked about additional

projects that are planned to support the
residents of the home including taking
children to the zoo and movies and
Our Latest Honorary Member
John Erickson and Ron Mucovich
welcomed Carol Irwin as out latest
Honorary Member. Carol has supported
Past President Gary and our club for
many years! Congratulations, Carol!
Carol Irwin with President Ron
E-Waste Collection Event
Rich Render has a day set for our Fall
eWaste Collection. It is September 22nd
from 9am to 4pm. This will be in the
usual location – the parking lot next to
the McCullough’s store where the
Moraga Farmer’s Market occurs. He will
have a signup sheet at the next
meeting.
Town Council Candidates Night
The club received the following email
from Diana Obrand, the current president
of the Moraga Citizens Network Board
announcing this year’s candidates Night.
“Please join us for this year's Moraga's
Candidates Night to be held on
Wednesday, October 3rd 7:00-8:30pm.
This event will take place at the Holy
Trinity Serbian Church, 1700 School
Street, Moraga.
Come meet the 3 Moraga Town Council
Candidates - Mike McCluer, Dave
Trotter and Steve Woehleke - and hear
them speak on important issues. Bring
your questions or submit your questions
to MCN94556@gmail.com
This free event is sponsored by the
Moraga Citizens Network.”
District 5160 Fall Assembly
The Rotary District 5160 Fall Assembly
is in Fairfield on October 20th at
Rodriguez High School. These events
run from about 8am to 1pm and are a
valuable opportunity to learn more about
things-Rotary. Just use your
personalized registration link (that
Governor Jon emailed you on Sept. 7)
or go to Rotary5160.org/Calendar
to register.
Moraga Chamber Golf
Tournament
The Moraga Chamber of Commerce golf
tournament will be at the Moraga
Country Club on October 22nd. It is a
full day of golf followed by dinner. The
cost is $195 per person. Kevin is
seeking a foursome so if you are
interested, please let Kevin know.
~~PROGRAM~~
Debbie Roessler introduced our
speaker, John Woehleke. John is a
Kiwanian who is a retired mechanical
engineer who worked for Chevron. He
is also currently a candidate for the
Moraga Town Council. John and his
wife Peggy lived in Japan for a year and
offered a program on his experiences
travelling, mostly by rail, in Japan.
Steve and Peggy Woehleke, Our Speakers This Evening.
John feels that Japan is the perfect
country to experience Asia. It is safe,
the signage is in English and the
residents are polite and friendly.
He described the convenience of the
bullet trains that allow fast movement
(approaching 200 mph) throughout the
country. He also recommended the use
of a rail pass that must be arranged in
the US prior to travel.
John described the types of hotel
accommodations available including
Ryokan Japanese Inns, midrange
Dormy Inns and the less desirable
capsule or pod sleeping rooms.
He then described the different types of
restaurants that are available. One can
resort to food courts or Italian food if
Japanese cuisine is not your thing.
John described some of the castles and
Buddhist and Shinto shrines that they
visited. They also toured the cities of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki and their
monuments commemorating the atomic
bomb tragedies during the second
World War.
John then reviewed some travel trips for
traveling light and successfully in Japan.
All Simonsen won the regular weekly
raffle but the lucky green marble eluded
him.
Greeter/invocator schedule:
09/18/18 = John Erickson
09/25/18 = Kevin Reneau
10/02/18 = Herb Wehmeyer
10/09/18 = Jim Campbell
10/16/18 = Michele Robbins
10/23/18 = Dianne Wilson
Calendar of Future Events:
• Sept 17 @ 5:30pm – Sept Board Meeting at
Moraga Royale – Note the day change
• Sept 22: E-Waste Recycling Event – 9AM –
4PM
• October 13 @ 5pm: New Orleans/Zydeco
Festival provided by Rossmoor Rotary.
• October 20 8am to 1pm: District Training in
Fairfield/Rodriguez High School
• October 23: Official visit of DG Jon Dwyer
• Nov 2: Tribute dinner for PRIP, Rick King, with
RIP, Barry Rassin and several Past RI
Presidents.
• November 17: Rotary Day at Golden Gate
Fields
• May 17-19, 2019: District Assembly for four
districts at Peppermill Casino in Reno.
• June 1-5, 2019: Rotary International
Convention in Hamburg, Germany
~~Cliff’s Corner~~ Thoughts From The Editor
Selecting the World President of RI
Occasionally I am asked how a Rotarian is I was sad to hear about the passing of Edy
selected to become the Worldwide President Schwartz this past weekend. Edy was a true
of Rotary International. There generally is no community leader in the town of Moraga and a
universal voting system, but rather it is a friend of Moraga Rotary. She will be missed.
rather complex process by a Nominating
Committee; the composition of which is
alternated among the 36 Zones of the world. I remember her presenting to our club about one
The Committee is composed of 17 past of her passions, the California Independent Film
Directors of Rotary International. Festival. Her work on behalf of Diego Rios
helped him become a student leader by
The Nominating Committee meets in August assisting him to find a place to stay and secure
about two years prior to the “President-
Nominee” taking office. The Committee may scholarships to help him through St. Mary’s. I
consider any Rotarian who has served a full also remember our club awarding Edy with a
term as a Club President, District Governor, Paul Harris Fellowship for her work supporting
and member of the RI Board of Directors, and the Town of Moraga.
indicated a willingness to serve if selected.
The record of Rotary service is considered for
each candidate, God bless you Edy. You made a difference and
are truly missed!!
The name of the Committee’s selection is
then announced to the clubs of the Rotary Frank May
world. Clubs then have until October 1st to
present an additional name for nomination.
which must be endorsed by 1% of all the
Rotary Clubs of the world, which is about 340
other Clubs. If such an event occurs, then
there is a mail-in vote taken by all 34,000
Rotary Clubs of the world.

If no additional candidate is proposed and

endorsed by October 1st, the individual
selected by the Nominating Committee is
declared the “President Nominee.” The final
step is for the Nominee to be voted upon by
voice vote at the following Rotary International
Convention. At that point, the Rotarian
becomes the “President-elect” for the
succeeding year. Edy Schwartz and Dianne at a Club Barbecue Last Year

On June 30th at midnight on the beginning of

the year in which the President-elect serves,
the official photo of the International President
is changed at the World Headquarters, and a
new Rotarian is the new Presidential leader.
MORAGA ROTARY DIRECTORS 2018-2019

President Ron Mucovich

Co-Presidents-elect Debbie Koo &
Evie Michon
Past President Dianne Wilson
Co-Secretary Vickie Devlin &
Evie Michon
Treasurer Lad Lynch
Foundation Chair John Erickson
Youth Service Chair Rich Render
Public Relations Gary Irwin
Newsletter Editor Frank May
Community Service Chair Tony
Schoemehl
Co-Chair, International Barbara Bruner
Services
Co-Chair, International Linda May
Services
Membership Chair Debbie Koo
Director at Large Mary Sue
Erickson
Director at Large Roger Gregory
Director at Large Debbie
Roessler
Advisor to the Board Jim Campbell
Advisor to the Board Cliff
Dochterman
District Governor 5160 Jon Dwyer
President, Rotary Barry Rassin
International
Newsletter Editor – Frank May